Top 10 Churros in Manila

(SPOT.ph)Churros are traditionally breakfast fare in Spain, but in Manila, somehow the trip across the ocean transforms them to merienda or desserts. It doesn't really matter. We'll enjoy them any time of the day. Ten years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to find decent churros in Manila, what with only one or a few restaurants offering them, but now this crunchy-soft goodness is becoming more and more mainstream—enough for us to be choosy. From sweet to savory, plain to stuffed, here are the top 10 go-to places for this deliciously fried treat.

All SPOT.ph Top 10 lists are researched, paid for, tested, and selected by the writers and editors. They are discreetly conducted without any notice made to the restaurants or their owners.

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10. Dulcinea

Nostalgia tastes so darn good. Sometimes, we can't tell if we like Dulcinea churros (P110) because of all the experiences attached to them. Wasn't this the place where most of us had our first churros? That extra seasoning of memories is enough for them to make the list. It’s still pretty much the churros of our childhood, served in that familiar shape with chocolate dip. Our palates may have been introduced to other options since, but this is comfort food that is as simple as it gets. Dulcinea will always have a place in our hearts.

Considering there is only one churros option (P88) on the menu, Sancho sort of builds up pretty hefty expectations with a name that prides itself as a churreria. But one is enough to make a deep impression. Northerners swear by the fried pastry of this Maginhawa destination. It's on the oily side—a common fault in making churros—but still pretty good. The churros are golden crispy on the outside yet soft inside.

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Sancho Churreria is at 122 Maginhawa Street, Quezon City.

8. Balboa

This restaurant makes hits and misses, but the Bite-Sized Churros with Dark Chocolate (P168) are a definite hit. There is just something about manageable portions and toasted tips that work really well. The textures are reminiscent of chicken nuggets or brownies baked in those edge pans. The rich, dark chocolate dip has a hint of peanut butter, which makes it taste even more like a kiddie treat.

Balboa is at Shangri-La Plaza East Wing, Mandaluyong City. Read more about Balboa.

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7. Xocolat

Everyone already knows that the chocolate is going to be good, but you'll be glad to know that the churros don't disappoint, either. They have two versions, Classic or Dark Chocolate Churros Con Xocolat (P145 each serving), and choosing is a difficult task indeed. The simple solution is to get both and pick your individual preference. The dark chocolate has a subtle bittersweetness to it chocolate lovers would really enjoy. In our case, we scooped it up too much and too fast. Make sure not to overdo it though—you'd want to have some chocolate with every bite.

Xocolat is at B. Gonzales Street, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

6. Barcino

The churros (P225) at Barcino are impressive because they are light and airy, the way that you expect churros to be. The portions are not too heavy, and the kitchen is confident enough with their techniques that they don’t fancy it up with other things. There's only a heavy-handed sprinkle of sugar, which it doesn't really need, to be quite honest. To really maximize the potential of this sweet treat, order some tapas or cheese. Go back and forth between sweet and salty so you don't overwhelm your palate. It doesn't hurt that this is a good place to get a glass of wine, too.

Terry’s version of churros, otherwise known as the Picatostes con Chocolate (P250), is really more like French toast. Instead of choux dough, it's made using fried French bread. But with the sprinkling of cinnamon sugar and the bonus of a Blanxart chocolate dip, our taste buds could hardly tell the difference. This is one of those things that really toe the line between light and chewy, and you'll end up eating more than you intend to. You can order the Picastostes without the chocolate for P115, but...why not?

If you enjoy churros as a dessert, the Churros Helado Con Maldon Caramel (P228) at Alqueria is right on the money. You get both the Classic and Chocolate Churros on a platter with the oh-so yummy Valor chocolate dip, plus a scoop of ice cream on the side. Their churros are on the denser side, but the balance between the elements makes it work. The chocolate they use is traditional drinking chocolate as opposed to ganache, so go ahead and drink it all up once the churros are gone.

Alqueria is at 3/F SM Mega Fashion Hall, Mandaluyong City.

3. Wildflour Cafe + Bakery

The Parmesan-stuffed churros (P220) at Wildflour is a savory one, but it’s hard to not count it in. The best way we can describe it is that it’s like a pillow of warm goodness with cheese inside. No one ever loses with cheese. We would order this as an appetizer, merienda, or to go with pasta. Do not overlook this one on your next visit to the popular bakery-slash-cafe.

This counter at the basement of Power Plant Mall in Rockwell always has hordes of people, and seeing them walk away with cartons of giant sticks of fried pastry is enough to make you want to stand in line for several minutes. There are overwhelming options from the Clasicos (P100/six pieces), Black Choco Churros, and Salty Mini Churros. Indulgent people that we are, though, it’s the Xuxos (P120) or stuffed churros that really make a statement. The staff recommends the Nutella-stuffed one and you'll do well to follow their advice. The Xuxos take longer to prepare, but that extra time to sit releases excess oil.

If you're not a fan of churros, this is the place that will make you have a change of heart. Yes, even non-churros fans find themselves developing a weekend market habit for these amazing things. Really, when churros are done right, they're so good. Focusing only on one kind of churros allows them to perfect their stuff. These yummy snacks are golden and crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside. At P100/three pieces and P150/six pieces with chocolate, Don Churro also offers outstanding value for money. They're so good, you can opt for them chocolate-less (P50/three pieces), with just cinnamon sugar, and end up happy.